The FAQ, and rules on Zealots in general, seem screwed up. When I made my Zealot character I assumed, looking at the Special section on the career, that Insanity is a defining trait of the Zealot and you have to pick an insanity from the start.

When I saw the FAQ say the following, I thought I had made a mistake by taking the Insanity for free.
careers that can socket non-standard cards into a talent socket can acquire these cards during character creation or during character development in the same way other careers acquire talents. For example, a Zealot could invest creation points or advances to acquire an Insanity card of his choice (which the Zealot can treat as a Talent card)

But on page 24 of the rule book it states:
Some talents are extremely specific, and relate to a particular career or role (how could the Zealot's Insanity socket not fall into this) . For example, a wizard’s College of Magic or a priest’s chosen deity are examples of two very specific talents called Specialty talents—they help further define part of a character’s makeup (Does not Insanity socket define the Zealot?).

Combine that with Page 37
Each career has several talent slots along the side of its sheet, showing the different affinities or knacks for that career. Some careers have one of these slots reserved for a special talent specific to that career. For example, wizard characters have a slot devoted to their Order of Magic, while priest characters have a slot dedicated to the god they serve. Players who have a character with a dedicated talent slot should find the corresponding card and place it next to the career sheet. Acquiring the card for a dedicated talent slot does not cost any creation points.

Notes:
-So as of the FAQ, the priest and wizard slots are the"Specialty talents", and the Zealot is the only career with a "non-standard" talent?

- Before the FAQ came out, one would have to assume that the Zealot slot fell under the Specialty Slot rules, there is no mention at all of "non-standard" in the rule book.

- The Priest and Wizard talent cards are free, and provide a constant benefit, while the Zealot can only be used once per session, as well as inflicts a bad side effect that most often outweighs the benefit, and is constant.

- It is fine to have zealot's with no insanity ever? If the FAQ is interpreted correctly, the player could go the entire career without an insanity. To me the insanity slot on the career sheet is a defining trait of the Zealot and I think that is why one would assume at first that he is automatically inflicted by an insanity at the start.

- If he is does not have an insanity at the start, his career ability us useless.

- I also figured the Insanity Cards negative side effect was the balancing factor of getting the card for free.

I know people can house rule all day long what makes sense to them, but I prefer to work within the official rules in these kind of cases (otherwise I feel like I am cheating). I wish FFG would take another look at this and clarify a bit more, because even reading the FAQ, they could have meant that Zealots can purchase "additional" insanity cards with creation points. If it is true that they want you to pay for your insanity, I think it doesn't seem right in comparison to other career abilities or special talent slots.

To me, the Zealot slot should be a Specialty Slot, following the same rules stated on Pages 24 and 37

Traditionally, the FAQ supersedes the rulebooks.

Zealots have to pay for their insanity with a creation point (in their talent selection).

Wizards and priests dont have to pay for their Faith/order cards. This makes them one creation point more powerful than other average careers.

Non-insane zealots could exist, but they wouldn't get their incredibly, and totally game-breaking ability [just kidding]

Zealots can also benefit from Standards, Holy Symbols and other religious artifacts from Signs of Faith.

I know you're avoiding house rules, but you can also find more information on Zealots in Liber Fanatica #7, along with bonus or replacement skills (depending on how your GM plays it).

* Your GM should rule that Zealots get their insanity for free, because it's a hinderance..in fact, you should get a bonus point if you don't take the bonus skills from LF7 (above).

jh

Wizards and Priest speciality slots cards are not chosen by the player. They are specific to the College/Order chosen at character creation. Additionally, no other cards can go into that slot nor be swapped out. A Zealot can swap in/out whichever insanity he chooses to socket (assuming he possesses multiple insanity cards).

Since the player gets to choose the insanity, and can use multiple insanities, and can gain additional insanity card slots in the advanced careers, they do not get a free insanity.

-So as of the FAQ, the priest and wizard slots are the"Specialty talents", and the Zealot is the only career with a "non-standard" talent?

essentially, yes. With the caveat of "so far" the zealot is the only career with a non-standard socket.

- Before the FAQ came out, one would have to assume that the Zealot slot fell under the Specialty Slot rules, there is no mention at all of "non-standard" in the rule book.

Well, that is your opinion, of course. As mentioned above, even before the FAQ I never interpreted the insanity slot as a Speciality slot. Since it doesn't slot a specific individual card, merely a specific type of card (ie it can change through the course of the game), it acts much more like the other talent cards.

- The Priest and Wizard talent cards are free, and provide a constant benefit, while the Zealot can only be used once per session, as well as inflicts a bad side effect that most often outweighs the benefit, and is constant.

The game isn't about balance between characters. Some career special abilities are better than others, for example. Keep in mind that the zealot can choose between insanities he wants to socket.

- It is fine to have zealot's with no insanity ever? If the FAQ is interpreted correctly, the player could go the entire career without an insanity. To me the insanity slot on the career sheet is a defining trait of the Zealot and I think that is why one would assume at first that he is automatically inflicted by an insanity at the start.

He could. Not all zealots are actually crazy and have an insanity. Some are just fervent in their beliefs. They lose out, however, if they don't take an insanity, since they have a wasted socket.

- If he is does not have an insanity at the start, his career ability us useless.

If a player doesn't purchase a talent for one of their slots, their slot is useless too. Nothing in the rules forces a zealot player to take an insanity. That is really a good thing. However, as you have pointed out, it is in their best interests to take one ... so the game obviously encourages taking an insanity. Forcing is bad. Encouraging is good.

- I also figured the Insanity Cards negative side effect was the balancing factor of getting the card for free

No, it balances out how powerful it is socketing an insanity. Really.

dvang said:

Very good points, especially the first one. You convinced me.